Through the still waters of open marshlands the sandhill crane wades on stiltlike legs. Its long neck erect, it scans the countryside with keen eyes for signs of danger. Then it lowers its head and searches the water. Out darts its neck, and its long daggerlike beak holds a frog or a salamander, which it swallows in one or two gulps. At other times it seems to prefer dry land and can be seen striding across fields, catching lizards, mice, and grasshoppers, or making a meal of grain.